Hinge structure for suitcases and the like



A. KAHLOW.

HINGE STRUCTURE FOR SUITCASES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1919.

1,367,978. Patented Feb. 8,1921.

:7 @mcmxn W/% Arih ur Kahiclvvi M fl UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicEJ ARTHUR KAHLOW, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

HINGE STRUCTURE FOR SUITCASES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Application filed September 25, 1919. Serial No. 326,251.

Structures for Suitcases and the like; and

I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in traveling bags, more particularly of that type wherein the sections of the suitcase or bag have their free edges secured to rectangular frames which are in hinge connection to provide for opening and closing the receptacle, as shown in my previous Patent No. 860,806, granted to me July 23, 1907.

It is in general the object of my invention to simplify and otherwise improve the structure, and to render more attractive the a p pearance of devices of this character.

It is more particularly my object to provide an arrangement whereinthe body material of the suitcase is utilized to provide the hinge connection for the frames.

With the above and other objects and ad vantages in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and claimed by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of adjacenthinge corner portions of the frames of a suitcase or like receptacle embodying my in vention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the lower intermediate portion of the suitcase.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings. it will be noted that as in my said previous patent, I provide a pair of rectangular inner and outer metallic frames for bracing the free edges of the sections of the suitcase, the inner frame being adapted to nest within the outer frame and including a side rail channel portion 5 having a flange section 6 extending laterally therefrom for engagement within the corresponding flange portion 7 of the channel portion 8 of the outer frame side rail, the channel portions being adapted to receive the body and lining of the suitcase sections which are tucked and then clamped therein to provide an exceedingly attractive finish.

In my present improved structure, the lower ends of the side rail channel portions 5 of the inner frame are connected by a simple channel rail 9 and the lower ends of the flanges jr of the side section of the outer frame are connected by a flat metallicrail strip 10, substantially the width of said flanges. The bottom body boards or sheets 11 and 12 respectively of the two suitcase sections, together with their outer sheathings l3 and 14 respectively are tucked into the bottom channel section 9 and clamped therein by the usual rivets 15 passed through the sides of. said channel section. p inner lining 16 is provided for the bottoms of the suitcase sections, said lining being extended about the channel section 9 of the inner frame and over the strap section 10 of the outer frame, being then continued over the body sheets 10 and 11 and upwardly at the sides of the suitcase. This lining is stitched to the body section at the side edges of the strip 9 indicated by the lines of stitching 17, there being only sufficient space between the strap 10 and the adjacent free side edgeof the channel section 9 to permit this stitching. The lining is also stitched to the body sheet 11 at the edge of the channel section 9.

An exceedingly simple, yet durable and effective hinge structure is thus provided,

wherein the body material of the suitcase sections forms the hinge connection for said sections and more particularly for the stiffening frames of the sections, it being noted that the hinge action of the body material is confined to a line A immediately adjacent the edge of the channel. section 9 by reason of the securement of the body sheet 12 and lining to the bottom strap section 10 of the outer frame. It is noted that the extreme hinge corner of the flange sections 7 of the outer frame form the terminals of the hinge line A.

While I have shown and described a pre-- ferred embodiment of my inventi0n,'it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications of structure may be employed to meet differing conditions of use and man ufacture, without departing in any manner from the spirit of my invention.

A common cent rail of the outer frame comprising a V What is claimed is:

l. A receptacle ofthe class described com prising a pair of Sections, frames secured to the free edges of the sections, the sides of each frame being formedwith channels extending inwardly at right angles to the sides of the receptacle, the body material of both sections extending'into the channel at one side of one of the sections and clamped therein whereby to provide a hinge connection for the sections.

2.- Areceptacle of the class described comprising a pair of sections, inner and outer frame members secured to the free edges of sand sections, one rail of the inner frame sec tion providinga channel member, the adjaflat strip, the body material of one section being tucked into said channel, and the body 7 material of the other section being secured to said strip and then also tucked into said 7 channel of the other frame to provide a being tucked into said channel, a lining member disposed about the channel frame section and extended over the body materialof the sections and stitching securing the lining to the body material of the adjacent section at the side edges of the strip frame portion. l

In testimony that lclaim'the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Nisconsin. ARTHUR KAHLOWV. 

